Century history of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens, 20th, Vol. II, Part 14

Author: McFarland, Joseph Fulton; Richmond-Arnold Publishing Co. (Chicago) pbl
Publication date: 1910
Publisher: Chicago, Richmond-Arnold Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 898

USA > Pennsylvania > Washington County > Washington > Century history of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens, 20th, Vol. II > Part 14

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ROBERT L. JOHNSTON, president of the school board of California, Pa., and a director of the First National Bank, has been a resident of East Pike Run Township since about 1854, and was born February 5, 1848, at Brownsville, Fayette Co., Pa., a son of James M. and Jane B. (Scott) Johnston, and a grandson of George Johnston, a native of Ireland, who came to this country about 1806 and located at Brownsville, Pa., where he died at the advanced age of ninety-three years. The father of our subject was a plasterer and contractor hy trade, hut spent his later years on a farm in East Pike Run Township.

Robert L. Johnston was reared at California, Pa., where he attended the local schools and the old academy, and when a youth removed with his parents to the farm in East Pike Run Township, where he subsequently en- gaged in farming until 1897, when he sold the property and came to California, where he and his brother James M. carry on a plaster contracting business. Mr. John-

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ston has for the past twenty two years served as a mem- ber of the township and borough school boards, and is now serving his fourth term on the California board, of which he has for a number of years been president. The other members of the board are as follows: W. J. Weaver, T. J. Underwood, Peter Dewar, Joseph Galla- gher, and Ross Denny. Mr. Johnston is a Knight Fem- plar Mason. He married Mary Worrel, who was born in Washington County, Pa., and was reared in Fallow- field Township by James Stroud. They have three chil- dren : James S., Jane S., and Robert L.

LEWIS N. YOHE, a member of the Yohe Brothers' Lumber Company, which is the oldest concern of its kind in Monongahela City, and was established in 1878, has been a life-long resident of this city, where he was born April 15, 1855, and is a son of Michael and Phoebe (McConnel) Yohe.

Michael Yohe was born and reared on a farm at Val- ley Inn, Carrol Township, in 1815, and was a son of Isaac Yohe, who came from the eastern part of Penn- sylvania, loeating on a farm three miles east of Monon- gahela City, where he spent his life engaged in farming. Michael Yohe was reared on the home farm, where he remained until after his marriage. He moved to Mouon- gahela City, Pa., where he died at the age of sixty-eight years. He married Phoebe MeConnel, who was born in 1825, in West Middletown, Pa., and who was of Scotch- Irish ancestry. Their nnion resulted in the birth of nine sons, namely : John M., a resident of Pittsburg; Isaac, a resident of Monongahela City; Leroy S., deceased; .James L., who is in partnership with his brother Lewis; William G., of New Kensington, Pa .; Lewis N., the sub- ject of this sketch; Frank; and Charles (twins) both residents of Monongahela City; and Sherod, who also resides in Monongahela City.

Lewis N. Yohe grew to maturity at his father's home, and after obtaining an education in the commou schools of the township, spent two years on Capt. . I. B. Gibson 's farm, and two years on Daniel Reil's farm, where he took the place of his cousin, J. B. Yohe, now general manager of the Lake Erie Railroad. He then came to Monongahela City, where he learned the earpenter 's trade with his brother Isaae, with whom he and his brother James, established in 1878, the plaining mill and lumber ' company, which is still operated under the firm name of Yohe Brothers' Lumber Company. The plaut, which is located on the Monongahela River, gives employment to an average of 60 to 100 men, and the concern does a general contracting business, dealing also in all kinds of building materials. Isaac Yohe disposed of his in- terest in the business to Clyde C. Yohe, a son of James L. Yohe, and is now living in retirement. James L. Yohe is manager of the mill, his son Clyde is secretary

and treasurer of the company, and Lewis N. Yohe, man- ager of the general contract work.

In March, 1877, Mr. Yohe was united in marriage with Sallie A. Wilson, a daughter of John and Susanna Wil- son, of Chester County, Pa., and they have had the fol lowing children: Warren J., who married Margaret Ab- bott, and has one child, Lewis, Jr .; George W .; Lewis HI .; deceased; Michael, who married Nellie McCalister and has two children, Donald and Harold; Sarah N., who is the wife of George Il. Peterson; Susan, deceased; Perey P., and Elsie.

In politics Mr. Yohe is a Republican. Fraternally he is affiliated with the Royal Areanum. He is an active member in the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he has been trustee for the past twenty-eight years.

WALTER H. BAKER, secretary and treasurer of the Universal Rolling Mill Company, whose plant is located at Bridgeville, Pa., is one of the prominent young busi- ness men of Washington. He was born at Zollarsville, in Bethlehem Township, but has practically spent his en- tire life in Washington, where his father, N. R. Baker, of the Citizens' National Bank, located when he was a child.

Walter H. Baker graduated with the elass of 1898 from Washington and Jefferson College, and immediately afterward beeame identified with the Tyler Charcoal Iron Mills for two years, after which he went to Waynes- burg as superintendent of the Waynesburg Forge, Sheet and Tin Mills, in which capacity he served until 1907, when he accepted a position as secretary and treasurer of the Universal Rolling Mill Company, with which he has since been identified, his office being located at No. 531 Washington Trust building, Washington.

Mr. Baker is a member of the First Methodist Epis- copal Church; is fraternally affiliated with Sunset Lodge. F. & A. M., and belongs also to the Duquesne Club of Pittsburg.

Iu April, 1909, Mr. Baker married Amy Patterson Dunean, a daughter of the late James E. Duncan, who was a prominent glass manufacturer of Pittsburg and Washington.

WILLIAM BAMFORD, a prominent farmer of Robe- son Township and the owner of a farm of 114 aeres, on which he has a producing oil well, was born November 16. 1864, at Bulger, and is a son of Robert and Sarah (Gordon) Bamford. The father was a blacksmith during his early life, but subsequently followed farming. He died January 1, 1886, leaving his widow, who is a resi- dent of Midway, and the following children: D. G. Bamford, William, our subjeet; Robert, and Mary, who lives with the mother at Midway.

William Bamford obtained his education in the com-

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

mon schools of the towship, and since completing same has been engaged in agricultural pursuits in Robeson Township. He is a stockholder in the Midway National Bank, and the McDonald Savings and Trust Company. In politics he is .a Democrat and has served three years as collector and treasurer of the school funds, and three years as road supervisor of the township.

In 1882, Mr. Bamford married Anna M. Hood, a daughter of James and Margaret (Burns) Hood, who was one of ten children born to her parents, who were well known farmers of this county: Jane, the deceased wife of James Coventry; Mary, deceased wife of John Coventry; Nancy, who first married Samuel Ackleson, formed a second union with Thomas Ramsey ; Catherine, the deceased wife of William Moreland; John; Alex- ander; Amanda, deceased; Anna Margaret, who is the wife of our subject ; James, and George. Mr. and Mrs. Bamford have three children: Sarah G., Margaret H. and Robert James.

ROBERT LEMOYNE ELWOOD, ex-mayor and an honored and highly esteemed citizen of Monongahela City, Pa., who has been a resident here for the past forty-seven years, was born August 3, 1856, in Washing- ton Co., Pa., and is a son of Robert and Elizabeth (Howe) Elwood.

Robert Elwood, father of our subject, was a small boy when his parents removed from Ohio to Washington County, Pa., where they settled on a tract of timber- land. Here he was reared and learned the blacksmith trade, and during the Civil War, came to Monongahela City, where he ran a shop on Main street, where the Ideal Theater is now located. He was married to Eliza- beth Howe, a native of Washington County, Pa., who died at the age of eighty-two years. Of their union were born the following children: Eliza, who married William Grable, both of whom are deceased; Anna, who married William Hartman, both deceased; John William; Margaret, who is the widow of John Frye; Maria, who married Aaron Reese; Clara, who is the wife of Amzi Eckles; Ella D., who is the wife of Harry MeMasters; Robert L., the subject of this sketch; and Jennie, who married Lewis Stuler. Mr. and Mrs. Elwood were married fifty years before death entered the family, the former's death occurring at the age of seventy-four years.

Robert L. Elwood was quite young when the family removed to Monongahela City, where he was reared and attended the common schools, having been a member of the Kate Clemmons class of 1872. He early in life began working on the river boats, beginning as a deck hand on the "Clipper," which was owned by William Clark. He later entered the employ of Joseph Walton & Com- pany, with whom he began as mate and was promoted

to captain. During his period of twenty-one years of service with that company he was presented with a token of appreciation by the independent coal dealers for having carried the largest amount of coal ever car- ried in six mouths on the Monongahela River, and he was at the same time presented with a miniature of his old boat, "Maggie," by the other employees of the Jo- seph Walton Company. During his thirty-two years spent on the river he was fortunate in not having sunk even the smallest amount of coal, which is a distinction that falls to the lot of but few sailors. In 1904, Mr. Elwood retired from the river, and the following year was elected mayor of Monongahela City on the Republican ticket, serving in that capacity for two terms, and during his second term was appointed alderman by the governor to fill the vacancy caused by the death of John Holland. At the expiration of his first term in that capacity, he was elected to that office and is still serving.

In 1904, Mr. Elwood and his son Robert embarked in the ice business at Monongahela City, and operate three wagons. He and his son have invented and ob- tained a patent Mar. 23, 1909, on a nut-and-bolt-lock, which will doubtless be used extensively in the con- struction of railroad structural iron work, the nut itself having a leveled face, which, when bolted to a surface of the same angle, makes slipping absolutely impossible.

Mr. Elwood was married Jan. 8, 1878, to Mary A. Furlong, who is a daughter of John Furlong, of Oil City, Pa., and they have four children: Seward, Eliza- beth, Morley and Robert L., Jr. Mr. Elwood is fra- ternally a member of the I. O. O. F., B. P. O. E., Jr. O. U. A. M., and the Steamboat Protective Association, Harbor No. 25. His religious connection is with the Methodist Episcopal Church.

WILLIAM COULSON, proprietor of the Central Hotel, a commodious, well equipped modern hostelry situated at Roscoe, Washington Co., Pa., was born in England, Sept. 6, 1869, and is a son of Eneas and Mary (Barnes) Coulson.

The parents of Mr. Coulson came to America in 1879. The father was a coal miner and found employment at Elco, formerly called Wood's Run, one mile up the river from Roscoe. Mr. Coulson worked as a miner until 1901, when he went into the hotel business and it was in his father's hotel at Donora that William Coulson obtained his training and experience in this line.

William Coulson started to work in the coal mines when he was 12 years old and knows all about the hardships and dangers of a miner's life, which he con- tinued to face until 1902, when he began to assist his father. He came to Roscoe and took charge of the Central Hotel in September, 1908. This building was erected in 1897, but has been remodeled and the latest

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JOSEPH A. HERRON

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

modern comforts and conveniences installed. It is : large, roomy structure, 40 apartments in all, 20 of these being comfortable sleeping chambers. It is of briek and tile construction and is three stories in height. Its cuisine is unsurpassed and its charges of $1.50 per day are very moderate.

Mr. Coulson married Miss Mary J. Gillie, a daughter of James Gillie, Sr., of Courtney, Washington County, and they have three children: Russell E., Isabel and Mary. In politics, Mr. Coulson is a Republican aud was serving in his fourth year as a member of the Donora borough Council, when he resigned the office, on coming to Roscoe. He is identified with the order of Elks.

AMBROSE L. EAKIN, one of Washington's repre- sentative citizens, a member of the city Council from the Eighth Ward, has long been identified with the oil industry and is district superintendent of the South Pennsylvania Oil Company, with offices on the second floor of the W. T. Building. He was born in 1866, in Veuango County, Pa., but from the age of 8 years un- til he came to Washington County, his home was in Me- Kean County.

Mr. Eakin began to work in the oil fields when he was a boy and more or less has been connected with oil interests ever since. In 1886 he came to Washington, being then in the employ of the Union Oil Company and transferred to the Forrest Oil Company when that or- ganization succeeded the Union, which, in turn was suceeded by the South Pennsylvania Oil Company. The territory over which Mr. Eakin has charge includes the business done in 234 wells. His long experience and thorough knowledge of details and conditions, both serve to make Mr. Eakin a valuable man for this responsible position. He takes an active interest in polities and for seven years has been a member of the Council.

Mr. Eakin was married at Bradford, Pa., in 1885, to Miss Carrie Belle Taylor, and they have had eight chil- dren, seven sons and one daughter, namely: Charles, who is in the employ of the South Pennsylvania Oil Company; Flossie, who resides at home; Glade, who is a resident of Spokane, Wash .; and Glenn, Leon, J. Shaw, Fred and Fay. Mr. and Mrs. Eakin attend the Metho- dist Episcopal Church. He is a Thirty-second degree Mason and is a member of the Blue Lodge, Chapter, Council and Commandery, at Washington, and the Con- sistory at Pittsburg. He is also a member of the order of Maccabees,

JOSEPH ALEXANDER HERRON, who is president of the Monongahela Trust Company, and senior member of Alexander & Company, bankers of Monogahela City, Pa., with which he has been associated since 1866, is

identified with various banking houses of Washington County. He was horn October 16, 1847, in Monongahela City, Pa., and is a son of David and Eliza Alexander Ilerron.

David Herron, who was born in Kentucky, became a captain on the lower river and about 1844 came tu Mo- nongahela City. He married Eliza Alexander, and after the birth of their only child, the subject of this sketch, he removed to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he died in 1864, after which his widow returned with her sun to Mononga- hela City, where she died in 1907, at the advanced age of eighty-four years.

Joseph Alexander, the maternal grandfather of onr subject, was born April 1, 1795, a son of one of the pioneers of the Upper Monongahela' Valley, who came here from Cecil County, Md., in 1763. Joseph Alexander first engaged in business iu Monongahela in 1825 as a general trader, in a log house on Main street, and later engaged in the banking business, taking in his son, William J., as a partner in 1843. The business was car- ried on under the firm name of Joseph Alexander & Son, and continued under that name until 1850, when the present firm of Alexander & Company was organized. Joseph Alexander died June 20, 1871. James S. Alexan- der, one of the younger sons of Joseph Alexander, who was born August 28, 1828, became a member of the bank- ing firm in about 1864, and a few years previous to his death, in 1904, he divided his interest between his two sons, William H. and Frederick K., who with Joseph A. Herron, constitute the present banking firm, Alexander & Company, of Monongahela City. William J. Alexan- der died June 8, 1894.

Joseph A. Herron spent part of his boyhood days in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he attended the common schools, and after the death of his father, he and his mother re- turned to Monongahela City, Pa., and his education was completed at the Westchester Military Academy at Westchester, Pa. In 1866 he entered the bank of Alex- ander & Company as clerk, became a member of that firm in 1870, and after the death of his uncle, James Alexander, became senior member of the firm, of which he is the present bead and active manager. The new building, which was erected in 1906, is a monument to the energy of the present firm. Mr. Herron is typical of the modern man of affairs, an indefatigable worker, with whom the affairs of Alexander & Company are ever foremost, but one who also finds time to do his part for civic betterment, and also devotes considerable time to his church and social duties. That he is a banker of a high order is shown by the fact that he is president of the Monongahela Trust Company; president of the Farm- ers' and Miners' Bank of Bentleyville; is a director of the Farmers' Deposit National Bank; the Farmers' De- posit Savings Bank of Pittsburg; is a director of the

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Reliance Life Insurance Company, and is also identified with various other business concerns of the county. Mr. Herron owns a valuable farm of 190 acres on Ginger Hill, and also his fine residence property which is located on Meade street. Politically he is identified with the Re- publican party, and is president and one of the board of managers of the Monongahela Cemetery. He has held membership with the Presbyterian Church for many years, and is also a deacon. He is fraternally affiliated with the Masons, the B. P. O. E., and the Jr. O. U. A. M.

Mr. Herron was married October 25, 1877, to Mary Campbell, a daughter of William and Eliza (Shaw) Campbell, of Butler County, Pa., and of their union were born : William A .; D. Campbell, who married Julia Abrahams; Joseph A .; Donald James; John; Ethel; and Gertrude.

JAMES WESLEY GILLESPIE, one of Washington County's substantial citizens and solid, reliable men, resides on his farm of 60 acres which is situated in Cross Creek Township and also owns a farm of 150 acres, which lies in Jefferson Township. He was born in the latter township Nov. 7, 1863, and is a son of W. J. and Sarah E. (Gillespie) Gillespie. His parents were farming people and he was their eldest child, the other members of the family being as follows: John, Charles, Nannie, Minnie, Venia, Winnifred and Ella Nora.

James Wesley Gillespie obtained his education in the public schools of Jefferson Township which he attended during the winter sessions until he was about 20 years of age, after which be gave the larger part of his at- tention to farming and raising stock. Since 1906, as a side line, be has done considerable butchering and supplies meat to the miners in the coal works adjacent to his farm. In the management of his property, Mr. Gillespie has shown the industry, forethought and good management which is pretty sure to bring about suc- cess.

On Feb. 19, 1885, Mr. Gillespie was married to Miss Mary E. McBride, a daughter of James and Elizabeth McBride, of Cross Creek Township, and to them have been born the following children: Viola B., who mar- ried Albert Boles, of Eldersville; James A., who resides in Colorado; Ethel G., who is the wife of Frank An- drews, of West Newton, Pa., and they have a son, Leslie; William W. and Homer R., both of whom live at home. Mr. Gillespie is a broad-minded man and a believer in higher education and he has given his children excellent advantages, two of them being graduates of the High School at Eldersville. The family attend the Methodist Episcopal Church. He has been a lifelong Republican, but has always declined to serve in public office, although well qualified in every way to do so. He is an Odd

Fellow and has passed all the chairs in Lodge No. 805 at Eldersville.

W. E. MeCURDY, one of Burgettstown's leading citi- zens and representative business men, conducting a large drug business as his main interest at present, was born at Eldersville, Washington Co., Pa., May 14, 1866, a son of Dr. J. K. and Elizabeth (Love) MeCurdy.

W. E. MeCurdy was educated in the schools of Clin- ton and Florence and then learned the drug business, spending two years in Gettysburg, two more years at Tarport, then a suburb of Bradford, and also some time in a suburb of Philadelphia. Since bis marriage, in 1898, he has resided at Burgettstown, where he has become identified with business interests and public affairs. For 17 years he has been local manager of the Bell Telephone Company, in which be is also a stock- holder; is a stockholder and one of the directors of the Burgettstown National Bank, and is proprietor of a drug store. He has taken an active part in advancing the various interests of the town and at present is serving on the Board of Health.

On Sept. 18, 1898, Mr. MeCurdy was married to Miss Jennie L. MeCorkle, a daughter of J. S. and Jennie L. McCorkle, and they have two children: Grace Elizabeth and John C. Mr. MeCurdy is a member of the First Presbyterian Church at Burgettstown, in which he is an elder, and he is superintendent of the large and interested Sunday school Mr. MeCurdy is a Prohi- bitionist and an active worker in the cause of temper- ance. He has been treasurer of Fairview Cemetery for the past ten years, being a charter member of the asso- ciation.

JOHN MILTON DAY, a representative citizen of South Franklin Township, where he successfully carries on a general line of agriculture, stock raising and sheep growing for wool, was born in Morris Township, Wash- ington, Co., Pa., Aug. 26, 1847. His parents were J. Miller and Elizabeth (Hanna) Day. The family is so old and so important a one in this section that the records have been preserved away back through the grandfather, John Day, to Daniel Day and Samuel Day, the founder of the family in Pennsylvania.

George Day emigrated from England to Connecticut iu the seventeenth century and thence removed to Newark, N. J. His descendants are quite numerous iu that region. His son, Samuel Day, came from New Jersey to Pennsylvania about 1775 and took up land in Morris Township, Washington County, and here became a farmer and man of substance. He was the father of four sons: Daniel, Samuel, Joseph and Benjamin, aud one daughter, Joanna.

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Daniel Day continued to reside on the land which his father had secured, adding to its improvements and value thereby, and lived to advanced age, dying in 1811. He left six sons and three daughters: Calvin, William, John, Samuel, Stephen, Cephas, Abigail, Eleanor and Electa.

John Day, son of Daniel, succeeded his father and grandfather on the homestead and retained possession of all the land during his life. On Sept. 2, 1813, by Rev. C. Dodd, John Day was married to Sarah Miller, of Amwell Township, Washington Co., Pa., and they had eleven children born to them: Eliza, Mary, Sarah, J. Miller, Daniel, Harvey, Annie, Abigail, Cyrus, Jessie and Meribah. Of these, Eliza was the wife of George Wolf and lived at Ninevah, Greene Co., Pa. Mary was the wife of John Brownlee and lived in Franklin Town- ship, Washington County. Sarah was the wife of Robert Baldwin and lived in Morris Township. Daniel was married (first) to Mary Bates and (second) to Etta Johns and resides at Canonsburg, Pa. Harvey was married (first) to Caroline MeCollum and (second) to Mrs. Mary Harris, and moved to Lincoln, Neb. Annie was married (first) to Elias Conger, and (second) to Dr. Strauss, of Amity, Pa. Abigail married H. C. Swart, of Washington County, Pa. Cyrus died when aged 8 years, and Jessie and Meribah, twins, both died in infancy.

J. Miller Day, the fourth member of the above family and the father of John Milton Day, was a lifelong resi- dent of Washington County and a large portion of this time was spent in Morris Township. He obtained ele- mentary training in the early subscription schools, these often being held in abandoned log dwellings and for- tunately one was situated near the Day homestead. His advantages were equal to those enjoyed by his asso- ciates and he, like many others, grew in wisdom as years were added to them. Much of the surrounding country at that time was practically unsettled, although much advance had been made from the time when the first member of the Day family penetrated into the wilderness. When Samuel Day first took up his tract of virgin land, an old fort stood in the southeastern part of Franklin Township and aged survivors would often relate to the younger generation of Days the fear- some adventures and terrifying experiences of early life on that border. Frequently the mothers would have to hasten with their little children clinging to them and take shelter within this fort when there were indications of visits from the Indians, who, in that section were savage at that time. The old fort no longer exists, but doubtless many a romance has been written around it. Among the first settlers to exert a real civilizing influ- ence, the Days without doubt were the foremost, the men of this family being industrious, energetic and

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Century history of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens, 20th, Vol. II, Part 14

Author: McFarland, Joseph Fulton; Richmond-Arnold Publishing Co. (Chicago) pbl Publication date: 1910 Publisher: Chicago, Richmond-Arnold Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 898

Author: McFarland, Joseph Fulton; Richmond-Arnold Publishing Co. (Chicago) pbl
Publication date: 1910
Publisher: Chicago, Richmond-Arnold Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 898